Zean Goudy Gassmann, 85, Olney insurance agent, died early Wednesday morning June 10, 1981 at Richland Memorial Hospital, Olney. He had suffered a heart attack Tuesday afternoon, shortly after attending a director’s meeting at Olney Trust and Banking Co. Services at First Presbyterian Church, Olney, with Pastor David A. McNabb and Father Gary Behrman officiating. Burial in Haven Hill Cemetery.

He was born February 17, 1896 in Olney, son of Henry and Carrie (Goudy) Gassmann. He married Gertrude Weber June 25, 1919 and she survives.

Prior to establishing the Zean Gassmann Insurance Agency in 1931, he was co-owner of the Gassmann Ice Cream Co. with his brother, the late Louis H. Gassmann. Since 1933 he had been a director of Olney Trust and Banking Co., prior to the bank’s reopening after the moratorium (a suspension of activity). He was president of the bank about ten years ago and since then had been chairman of the board of directors.

Active in Republican Party politics, he served for many years as precinct committeeman, secretary and chairman of the Richland County Republican Central Committee. From 1941 to 1949, he was superintendent of the Division of Foods and Dairies in the Illinois Dept. of Agriculture, while the late Dwight Green was Governor.

Mr. Gassmann was a member of Olney Lodge No. 926, BPO Elks and was exalted ruler and district deputy; Richland Post No. 30, American Legion and was commander for two years; Olney Memorial Post No. 4226, Veterans of Foreign Wars; and the Masonic orders. He was a life member of the University of Illinois Alumni Association and the University of Illinois Foundation. He was in the U.S. Navy during World War I, reaching the rank of Ensign while serving in France.

Surviving are his wife; six daughters: Mary Stonecipher, Katharine Schaub and Elizabeth Vaughn, all of Olney, Barbara Harris, San Francisco, Calif., Martha Kraeger, Chicago, and Gertrude Reynolds, Ames, Iowa; three sons, George and Henry, both of Olney, and Frank Clement, Dundas; 42 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Zean Jr. and John and a brother, Louis H. Gassmann.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)